How To Clean a Yoga Mat

A yoga mat provides cushion for your knees, support for your body, grip to prevent slipping, and a space for your practice. These same mats can also be used for bootcamps, core work, stretching, Pilates, barre exercises, and more.

When was the last time you cleaned your yoga mat?

It gets direct contact from your body - bare feet, hands, face, legs… the list goes on.

It collects dirt, dust, and grime from you, your environment, and those around you.

I think it’s probably time for a clean!

Here are some tips on how to keep your yoga mat fresh:

FOR A LIGHT, EVERYDAY CLEAN

1. Purchase a yoga mat cleaning spray, or make a home cleaning solution (see below)

2. Shake bottle to mix & spray onto mat

3. Wipe off with a clean cloth or paper towel

4. Let air dry fully before rolling or folding mat

FOR A DEEP CLEAN

1. Run a warm bath, fill a large sink with warm water, or fill up a kiddie pool

2. Add a very small amount of mild detergent (too much soap leaves residue, causes slipping, and can destroy the integrity of the mat)

3. Submerge mat in water and scrub

4. Rinse mat in clean water until it runs clear

5. Wring out or shake excess water out of cleaned mat

6. Lay mat on a dry towel and roll the two together

7. Step on the mat to drain any excess water into the towel 

8. Unroll and hang mat to air dry

9. Repeat weekly (if used frequently) or monthly (if infrequently)

MAKE A DIY CLEANING SOLUTION

• Make a 50/50 mixture of water and white distilled vinegar

• Put it inside a small spray bottle with a pump and store it with your mat

  • Label the bottle, to remember what is inside. 

  • Using a clear bottle can help remind you to refill when needed. 

  • Make it travel-friendly by getting a misting pump bottle with a cap. Plastic is more shatter-resistant than glass.

More Tips for Cleaning Your Yoga Mat

• Maintain good personal hygiene and wash hands prior to exercising on a yoga mat. That reduces the amount of dirt and germs that transmit onto the mat surface.

• Cleaning your mat helps prolong it’s life.

• Keep mat out of direct sunlight. It can fade and become brittle.

• Allow a mat to air dry fully before rolling for folding to protect against mold and mildew.

• Avoid using harsh cleaners on mats, unless necessary. Using too much soap can be hard to wash off and slippery.

• For rubber mats, skip products containing essential oils.

• Skin creams or body oils can stain or make the mat slippery.

TO DISINFECT

• Most yoga mats are porous, which make it hard to disinfect. 

• Your skin makes direct contact with your mat, so consider this when you apply harsh cleaning solutions, solvents, and chemicals to your mat. 

• There are EPA-approved products that are effective against coronavirus, though most are designed for non-porous surfaces and are not suggested to come into direct contact with the skin.

  • Many of these cleaners (especially anything with an alcohol base) cause rubber yoga mats to degrade prematurely.

  • Lysol Professional Disinfectant Spray is thought to have the least negative impact on natural rubber yoga mats, though due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been in limited supply… so we have not actually been able to try this ourselves.

Keep it clean. Keep it safe. Keep practicing.